USS Segundo (SS 398)

"Submarine Honor Guard"

USS Segundo (SS 398)

Officers and crew aboard USS Segundo (SS 398) salute the colors as the submarine slides down the
 launching ramp, February 5, 1944.  United States Navy photograph.

October 14, 1943, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard laid the keel for USS Segundo (SS 398).  The submarine was commissioned into the United States Navy on May 9, 1944.

Segundo joined the Pacific Fleet on July 25, 1944.  The next year, the submarine served five war patrols in the Philippines, Marshall Islands, Luzon Strait, South China Sea, East China Sea, and Korean coast.  The fifth war patrol began on August 10, 1945 in the Sea of Okhotsk.  After “Cease Fire” was announced on August 15, Segundo was ordered to proceed to Tokyo Bay on August 24. 

World War II battle flag of USS Segundo  (SS 398).

While en route, she encountered the Japanese I-400 class submarine I-401 on August 29.  In 1945, I-401 was the largest submarine in the world.  Segundo ordered I-401 to standstill, after communication between the submarines, the Japanese accepted Segundo crew members aboard and operating I-401 to Tokyo Bay.  On August 31, 1945, at 05:00, the United States flag was raised aboard the Japanese submarine I-401. Segundo and I-401 were both present in Tokyo Bay during the formal surrender on September 2, 1945.

Blimp overhead deck of USS Segundo (SS 398), circa 1947.  Photograph courtesy of John Hummel.

After World War II, Segundo operated out of San Diego with cruises to Australia and China in 1946 and 1948.  On June 25, 1950, the submarine was in the Far East with the outbreak of the Korean War.  Segundo served as support for the United Nations Forces during the war from July to September of 1950.  In 1951, the San Francisco Naval Shipyard converted Segundo to a Fleet Snorkel Submarine.  The next year, the submarine returned to the Korean War until February 16, 1953.

USS Segundo's (SS 398) after battery and laundry room, circa 1960s.  Photograph courtesy of John Hummel.

Segundo served from 1953 to 1969 out of San Diego patrolling along the west coast of the United States and in the Pacific.  In July of 1970, the submarine was found unfit for further Naval service.  Segundo was decommissioned on August 1, 1970.  Seven days later the submarine was sunk as a target by the submarine USS Salmon (SSR 573).

The colors lowered for the final time aboard USS Segundo (SS 398).  United States Navy photograph.

USS Segundo (SS 398) after being struck by a torpedo on August 8, 1970.  United States Navy photograph.

The United States Navy used the submarine for twenty six years, two months, and twenty three days continuously.  During that time Segundo earned four battle stars during World War II and one battle star during the Korean War.

Author: Allison Hiblong